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MRK 9:30-32

The Second Prediction of the Passion

30They went out from there and were passing through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know,

31for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of Man is being handed over into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he has been killed, after three days he will rise."

32But they did not understand this declaration, and they were afraid to ask him.

In the world it was spoken into

In 1st-century Galilee, Jesus’ prediction of his betrayal, death, and resurrection would have been deeply unsettling to his disciples. The term 'Son of Man' carried Messianic connotations rooted in Daniel 7, but its association with suffering and death would have clashed with popular expectations of a triumphant, political Messiah. The verb ('is delivered') evoked betrayal, a grave dishonor in the honor-shame culture of the Mediterranean world. For disciples, this would have been incomprehensible, as their teacher’s death would undermine their social standing and hopes for Israel’s restoration. The disciples’ fear to ask further questions reflects the hierarchical dynamics of a rabbi-disciple relationship, where questioning authority was often discouraged. Additionally, the idea of resurrection, while familiar in Jewish thought (e.g., Daniel 12:2), was not universally accepted, particularly among Sadducees. Jesus’ words would have been both cryptic and alarming, challenging their understanding of God’s plan and their role within it.

›See the receipts

How other translations render this

MRK 9:30

KJV
And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.
BSB
Going on from there, they passed through Galilee. But Jesus did not want anyone to know,
Koinōnos
They went out from there and were passing through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know,

MRK 9:31

KJV
For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.
BSB
because He was teaching His disciples. He told them, “The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill Him, and after three days He will rise.”
Koinōnos
for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of Man is being handed over into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he has been killed, after three days he will rise.

MRK 9:32

KJV
But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.
BSB
But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.
Koinōnos
But they did not understand this declaration, and they were afraid to ask him.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Where the historical framing draws from

  • Josephus, AntiquitiesAntiquities 18.1.2
›Josephus, Antiquities Antiquities 18.1.2

“The Jews had for a great while had three sects of philosophy peculiar to themselves; the sect of the Essens, and the sect of the Sadducees, and the third sort of opinions was that of those called Pharisees”

Cited to ground: the idea of resurrection, while familiar in Jewish thought (e.g., Daniel 12:2), was not universally accepted, particularly among Sadducees.

Translator's notes

MRK 9:30

  • they were passing through:The word translated 'they were passing through' implies a continuous, ongoing movement, suggesting a journey that was still in progress rather than a brief, completed passage.

MRK 9:31

  • is delivered:The term 'is delivered' carries the sense of being handed over, often to an enemy or for a specific purpose, implying a deliberate act of betrayal or surrender rather than a passive event.

MRK 9:32

  • they were not understanding:The phrase 'they were not understanding' indicates an ongoing state of incomprehension or a repeated failure to grasp the meaning, rather than a single instance of not understanding.
  • declaration:The word translated 'declaration' refers to a spoken word or utterance, often with the implication of a significant statement or a divine pronouncement, more weighty than a casual remark.